easily imagined that my surprise was only equalled by my sorrow at this most inexplicable behaviour. A thousand times I turned over and over again in my mind what could possibly have occurred to bring about such a sudden and extraordinary change. I did not like to ask her, as she seemed to shun all conversation, much more all explanation with me on the subject.

Matters were in this state, when one morning as I was attending my lady as usual, she showed so much more coldness, I ought to say abruptness and unkindness, than she had done before, that I was on the point of taking the liberty of entreating an explanation, when she dismissed me so suddenly, that I had not courage to speak. I hastened therefore with a full heart, and tears which I could no longer restrain, to my room, where I found Madelina apparently waiting to speak to me. I endeavoured to conceal my emotion, but the kind girl perceiving it, ran up to me, saying,

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Ah, dear Signora, who has been grieving you? I guess I know what has happened."

"You know, Madelina ?" I said. "Tell me what you know, what you guess, for I am quite bewildered."

Madelina, closing the door, began by assuring me how grieved she was at my distress, and added, that she observed it from the first, that she was sure it was caused by the alteration in my lady's conduct towards me, (which she had herself noticed,) the reason of which, she said, she was certain she knew.

She then went on to say, that about ten days since, (which was just the time I first observed the strange change in my lady's behaviour to me,) while she was in the saloon brushing the little favourite spaniel, the Marchesa di Spitola was announced. Madelina was about to quit the room, when Lady Henry desired her to take the dog and keep him quiet on her lap in the recess of one of the windows, till the Marchesa should have taken her leave, as she so much disliked dogs.

"I had taken my seat," Madelina continued, "and was hid, I have no doubt, by the folds of the curtain, before the Marchesa entered, who,

after chatting for some little time on indifferent subjects, asked if Lady Henry had still got the handsome English girl in her service."

"Whom do you mean? said my lady; “La belle Therèse," replied the Marchesa.

"Ah, my good Theresa," replied Lady Henry, "what should I do without her? But why do you ask?"

"She may be very good," said the visitor, but I should not like to have so handsome a waiting-maid. Are you never jealous of her?"

No, indeed," said my lady, "I have no cause for jealousy."

"Then you are very kind, or very blind," continued the malicious and wicked Marchesa; "all I know is, that I should be very jealous and very angry too, if my waiting-maid were to be seen taking retired and sentimental walks with my husband."

"Gracious heavens! what do you mean?" exclaimed Lady Henry, dreadfully agitated. "Oh, tell me all, conceal nothing from me. But no, I cannot, will not believe any thing unworthy of my dear Enrico."

Well, then, I had better be silent, and leave you in happy ignorance."

"Not so," said Lady Henry, "tell me all you know, suspense is dreadful."

"Well, then," continued the Marchesa, "it is notorious that your bonne et belle Therese, as you call her, is endeavouring all she can to seduce your lord from his allegiance to you; and that she has to a great extent succeeded, is obvious from the pleasure he takes in her society, or why take those private walks with her that he does? The evening your little page was buried they were seen walking alone together in a shaded grove in the burialground."

"Heavens and earth, what do I hear?” sobbed almost hysterically my poor mistress. "How do you know all this?" she cried.

"I cannot tell you now," said the artful marchesa, but promise me to be silent on the subject, and I will inform you of such facts when we next meet, as shall banish all your doubts, and, I hope, induce you also to banish your hypocritical Soubrette."

Saying this, she rose to depart, first again cautioning my lady to be silent. The latter was so absorbed in grief, said Madelina, that she evidently forgot I was in the saloon. I saw her sink on the sofa and give way to a torrent of tears; then rising, she hurried to her bedroom and locked the door after her."

"I was so shocked and so grieved at what I had heard and seen," continued Madelina, "that for some moments I could not move; and when I did, I hastily ran to our sittingroom, fully intending to tell you what had passed, but you were not there; and afterwards I felt afraid to tell you, thinking it would distress you without doing any good. Now, however, that I perceive the wicked falsehoods of the marchesa have sunk so deep into the heart of my lady, as to make both herself and you miserable, it would be shameful in me to be silent any longer."

It was with difficulty that I could listen with patience to the end of this detail, I was so overcome with wonder, grief, and indignation. Upon what grounds, and for what